The Irish standard., 1887-06-04

lal
and had the vessel hauled over to the
north side of the river to make sail with
the wind ENTHUSIASTICALLY, Flood and
Stephens working manfully at the
winch.
RUNNING THE GAUNTLET.
As may be imagined, we had consid-
cradle delay owing to the want of nau-
tical skill of my three new sailors, and
it was 1870 O'clock on the 14th when we
hailed the revenue boat to know the
time. At first we feared she would
board US, but she passed up the river
merely asking what ship. I answered
the Concord Of Dublin for Cardiff. We
then had to run the gauntlet Of the two
revenue cruisers in the bay, but we
sailedkgaily out innocently between
them without notice, shaped souther-
~ course, passed the Mugglins closely,
soon after Bray Head which showed re-
markedly beautituliin the bright moon
light. At this time we were going free
with every stitch we could carry with a
northeast breeze. BY daylight we were
off Wicklow Head, when the wind grad
ually died away and changed to south
east, which directly headed us on the
course we were sailing and as we were
keeping close to the land so as to get all
the advantage we could of the ebb tide,
which had still about two hours to run,
we were unpleasantly close to very
nasty lee shore. However, we beat up
as far as Arklow Bay, where we put in
to avoid the flowing tide.
About mid. day the wind increasing,
[ saw we were going to have a very bad
night, as there were all the Indications
Of a storm from the south. My position
now was truly one of anxiety pros
pect Of a gale right in our teeth. dan
gerous shore under our lee, and two
revenue cruisers in the Bay of Dublin
on the lookout. About 2 o'clock, p. No.,
1 hastily consulted with my passengers
as to the desirability of putting down
our helm and running for port in
Scotland. After a time they agre d,
and down went the helm, and we
squared away to the northward, avoid
ing Dublin Bay running over the Risk
Bank, which in itself was no small risk,
as smart wind was blowing and a
rough sea running, and slow-sailing
craft as we were, we were going seven
knots through the water, the wind still
increasing. was now making for
mid-channel, as it was not prudent to
keep too near the Ilish land; also there
was every likelihood of the wind becom-
ing more easter]y, which turned out so.
THE NEXT PROBLEM.
1t was now blowing half gale, but
carried every stitch until 10 o'clock p.
M, when we took in all our light-fyers,
which was most fortunate, as about II
o'clock. p. M, we were struck with
very heavy squall. which, tidy as we
were almost threw her on her
beam ends. We had 60 let go every
thing and run dead before the wind I'M
til we got her under double-reefed can
vas and small head salt, which was the
very most she could carry, and with
that she labored and strained all night
in heavy seaway close-hauied, the
wind having gone considerably east
ward and increased to a gale. At
dawn we sighted the Isle of Man on
our weather beam. How to get around
the South Light was the next problem,
and difficult one, too. Icould run for
Strangford Tough with ease; but it I
did the probabilities were strongly in
favor of my being boarded, and the
game ended; so ] clapped on sail until
we could hardly stand on deck, our lee
rail being almost in the water.
A NARROw SHAVE.
Imay mention that sunken rect
runs out from this island or rock for
about two miles, and it's termination
was at that time marked by buoy, but
there is lightship there now. This
was the object 1 dreaded; but With the
aid of the flowing tide and the heavy
press of sail we were carrying l had
great hopes Of weathering it. 1t was
narrow shave, as in passing could
easily hit the buoy with a biscuit.
Shortly after passing this danger a
steamer hove in sight, and so over
strained were my nerves that took her
for a gun-boat This was not much to
be wondered at, as the nature of my
charge, the length of time stood at
the vessels wheel-almost since we left
the Liffey, and the very disagreeable
change in the weather had their effect
and almost knocked me off my head.
Flood, Kelly and Stephens. each pro-
vided with brace of six chambered re-